Play to kick off county's anniversary celebration

Stuttgart will kick off the Arkansas County Bicentennial Celebration with a historical presentation and luncheon at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie.

The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the museum and will feature a historical presentation written by Nelson White and performed by students from Stuttgart High School.

White said the presentation will include the history of Arkansas County to the present. He hopes to have six or seven SHS students perform the play.

Tickets for the luncheon, which will be catered by Cater Rita's, are $14 each and are available at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie. Limited seating is available, so those interested in attending the event are encouraged to purchase tickets early.

The event is sponsored by the Amici Club, Arkansas Post Chapter DAR, Grand Prairie Chapter DAR, the Stuttgart Lions Club and the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie.

The historical presentation and luncheon is the first of several events commemorating the bicentennial of Arkansas County. A Business After Hours reception will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Arkansas County Courthouse in Stuttgart.

The official celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Arkansas County Courthouse in DeWitt. The day-long event will feature booths from county communities and organizations, Civil War re-enactors, a costume contest, talent showcase and the burying of a time capsule.

T-shirts, a collectible Christmas ornament and U.S. Post Office envelopes and cancellations are for sale.

For more information about the Nov. 9 historical presentation, contact the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie at (870) 673-7001.

To learn more about the Dec. 14 celebration or to have a booth, contact Dyan Bohnert at (870) 382-2017.